The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-28

| At this place my arrangements,
such as the purchase of supplies and
camp equipage, were made prepare
tory to establishing my first camp.
The instruments used on this work
were again furnished me by the
Bureau of Typographical Engineers,
and consisted of large portable as
Economical transit. zenith telescope,
asextant and artificial horizon, two
tbeodolites, three surveyors COM
passes with chains and pins, two cis-
tern barometers, one sidereal and two
mean solar box thermometers, to-
gether with the necessary articles
appertaining to such surveys. In
consequence of the more, varied and
laborious nature of this duty, my
party this season had increased in
numbers: it consisted of one Princi-
pal surveyor, Mr.. John de la Camp,
one computer, Mr.. Louis Daser, one
guide, five men AS instrument bear
ers, roadmen and chainmen one
attendant on observatory, from five
to ten aXemen, according to ciTcum-
stances, and one cook. The trans
portation of the instruments, provi.
sions and camp equipage, from
Oakland to Arnold's farm, the near
est and most accessible spot to the
Gftial point for wagons, and the sub
seqVent packing them on the backs
of hen for nearly mile up and
downthe steep faces of the mountain.
was attended with considerable labor
and dihculty. Neither on this, the
first moning, nor on any subsequent
occasion when changing from camp
to camp.was the trouble and anxiety
light, in consequence either of the
absence O, or the impossible condi-
ton of thu roads of the country, or
from the CONSTANT dread of some &C.
cident happening to the delicate parts
of the instruments, any false step or
neglect might have delayed the work
for long tine before they could be
repaired or replaced by others. The
party reached the head and springs
of the North Branch of the Potomac
on the 18th If June; to avoid the
Dorterage owe, the mountains of tents
and their apIurtenances, very con-
venient and commodious huts were
built for shelter at night and from
rain. This camp was most beauti-
full one /; surrounded by immense
forest trees of every variety peculiar
to the Alleghanies, forming the dem
sest and most delightful shade, sup
piled from springs of most deliciously
cool water and furnished with every
desirable comfort, sometimes even
delicacies in the way of game the
life was truly very agreeable; the
occasional visits of friends formed
pleasant episodes, and made the time
pass most delightfully."-. The view
from it was but limited, as the mas
siye growth forbid any far penetra-
ton of sight. The initial point of
the work, the oft mentioned, oft
spoken of Fairfax stone," stands on
spot encircled by several small
streams flowing from the springs
about it; it consist of a rough piece
of sandstone, Indifferent and friable,
planted to the depth of few feet in
the ground, and rising foot or more
above the surface. Shapeless in form
it would scarce attract the attention
of the passerby it was found with.
out difficulty and easily recognized
by the inscription "Ffx" upon it.
now almost obliterated by the corrod-
ing action of water and air. In order
not to disturb the stone, the first
observatory was built Immediately
in rear of it. The instrument used
in ascertaining the direction of the
line at the first principal station, the
middle point of Fairfax stone, was
large portable astronomical transit
by Wundeman, employed in con-
junction with sidereal chronometer
it was placed in position on the me-
ridian by the method of high and
low stars. An open cut was then
made through the timber varying
from twenty to twenty-five feet, so
as to give clear line of sight to the
next highest point to the North on
top of the Backbone of the ALLIE
ghanies when brought into the field
of view of the instrument. a signal
was placed on the ridge in the direc-
ton of the line by means of gun
powder flashes at night, the distance
being too great to direct the move
ments of flag by day. Thus the
position of the second principal
station was established, Any inter-
mediate points on low intervening
ridges, visible from the instrument,
were then marked without disturb.
ing its position.
Tho lOW yoIlax,c or Aatc hofuoo,